Cincinnati Reds News Roundup — September 11, 2026

The Cincinnati Reds' playoff hopes have been mathematically eliminated, ending a season marked by injuries to key pitchers and inconsistent roster construction. Hunter Greene's season was derailed by two separate elbow injuries that required Tommy John surgery, while Nick Lodolo, Brandon Williamson, and Rhett Lowder also missed significant time, forcing the team to rely on depth arms throughout the rotation. The pitching injuries compounded what general managers and analysts view as questionable decisions by Nick Krall, with some arguing the team should have promoted young players like Noelvi Marte and Edwin Arroyo rather than continuing to depend on underperforming veterans.

Elly De La Cruz has been the team's bright spot, posting an outstanding 2026 season with a .283 average, 26 home runs, and 25 stolen bases. He recently extended his home run streak to five consecutive games, including a solo shot in a 14-1 loss to the Dodgers, and set a record for most home runs in a season by a switch-hitter. De La Cruz's performance has earned strong fan approval despite the team's struggles, with his 5.0-5.6 WAR ranking fourth among position players despite missing time with a hamstring injury.

Beyond De La Cruz, the Reds have identified potential building blocks for 2027. Outfielder Dane Myers has emerged as an unexpected strength after arriving as a low-profile platoon option, batting .286 against left-handed pitchers while providing solid defense in center field and going 10-for-10 on stolen base attempts. Closer Emilio Pagán is expected to exercise his player option and remain with Cincinnati, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.

The Reds travel to Milwaukee for a three-game series beginning Friday, with Andrew Abbott facing Dustin May at 7:40 PM ET. Abbott will look to build on a strong recent outing against the Brewers, allowing just one earned run through four innings in their last matchup, while May has struggled since being traded to Milwaukee at the deadline.